A special event inspired by Lac qui Parle County’s Robert Bly will be held on Sunday, May 28 from 2- 4 p.m. at the Lac qui Parle County Museum in Madison, Minnesota. The event is free and open to the public and will feature presentations, videos, poetry readings, discussion Funding for the event is provided by a Legacy Grant to the Lac qui Parle County Historical Society though the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council. For more information, contact Susan Armington 612-722-4088 or Barb Redepenning at 320-598-7678.

Entitled Imagination on the Prairie — An Afternoon of Stories, Film, and Art, the event is designed for the public to learn more about Robert Bly, world famous poet and activist who grew up in Madison, and to hear about life in Lac qui Parle County from the perspective of local writers. There will be an opening reception for two art exhibits – one of local artists’ works in the Museum, and the other in the Robert Bly Study, where a special exhibit with art and soundtracks by Susan Armington about Bly’s life will be christened.

The museum will open at 1:00 p.m. and beginning at 2:00 p.m. there will be a program with Armington speaking about her art and the new exhibit followed by poet Lauren Carlson reading her poems and writings by Lac qui Parle Valley High school students. Noah Bly, Robert Bly’s son, will share some stories about his father and the winners of a local writing contest will be announced. Dana Conroy, Emmy Award winning producer with Pioneer Public Television, will share some of her experiences about working on this project and will present a documentary about Bly and Madison’s Prairie Arts Center that recently aired on Pioneer.